Week 12 at Carolina
Amari Cooper is coming off of a 4-57-1 line on five targets in a 27-20 win over the Texans on Monday Night Football. He’s been one of the best receivers in the league this year and currently ranks second in yards after catch (3.8 yards per target), and first in contested catch rate, while boasting a top-20 target share (24.5 percent) in 2016. In an above-average matchup against the Panthers in regards to WR aFPA, Cooper is a mid-range WR1 in Week 12.
Week 11 vs. Houston
Amari Cooper is coming off of a 6-56 line on eight targets in a 30-20 win over the Broncos before their Week 10 bye. He’s been one of the best receivers in the league this year, and over his past four games is top-25 in target market share of Air Yards (30.11 percent) and top-20 in target market share (26.11 percent). Cooper also finds himself in a very difficult matchup against A.J. Bouye, though Allen Robinson did drop a 9-107-1 line on him last week on 13 targets. In a below-average matchup against the Texans on Monday Night Football, Cooper is a low-end WR1 in Week 11.
Week 9 vs. Denver
Amari Cooper exploded for 12 catches on 15 targets for 173 yards and a touchdown in in a 30-25 overtime win against the Bucs in Week 8. He's been one of the best receivers in the league through eight weeks, ranking among the top-three receivers in both receptions and yards. He is also fifth in the league in targets. Cooper has a tough matchup this week, as the Broncos have been great against WR1s this year. Cooper is a low-end WR2 in Week 9.
Week 8 at Tampa Bay
Amari Cooper is coming off of a disappointing 4-29 line on five targets in a 33-16 win against the Jaguars in Week 7. Cooper leads the team with a 25 percent target market share in the past four weeks, and gets a Bucs team this week that has been great against WR1s. We have Cooper ranked as a mid-range WR1 in Week 8.
Week 7 at Jacksonville
Amari Cooper is coming off of a massive 10-129 line on 13 targets in a 10-26 loss against the Chiefs in Week 6. Cooper has looked fantastic so far this year, leading the Raiders with a 28.17% percent target market share in the past four weeks on a team that has spread it around on offense. Cooper will be likely be shadowed by Jalen Ramsey, which isn’t ideal, but it is a winnable matchup with his level of talent. Cooper averaged 4.5 catches and 66.9 yards per game last season on just over eight targets per game. In an above-average matchup against the Jaguars, Cooper is a low-end WR1 in Week 7.
Week 6 vs. Kansas City
Amari Cooper is coming off of a massive 8-71 line on 12 targets in a 34-31 win against the Chargers in Week 5. Cooper has looked fantastic so far this year, leading the Raiders with a 23.38 percent percent target market share in the past four weeks. It could have been even bigger Week 5 if he didn’t have three, yes three, touchdowns called back. Sure, he could have had more sideline awareness to stay in bounds on two of those, but at least Cooper got into the end zone. Cooper averaged 4.5 catches and 66.9 yards per game last season on just over eight targets per game. In an average matchup against the Chiefs, Cooper should spend most of his time running routes against Phillip Gaines and avoiding Marcus Peters, which is much more favorable. Cooper is a high-end WR2 in Week 6.
Week 5 vs. San Diego
Amari Cooper is coming off of a 5-48 line on six targets in Week 4. Cooper has looked fantastic so far this year with a 23.03% percent target market share on a team that has spread it around on offense. A breakout is imminent with Cooper, as he has left some big plays on the field in each game this year and has yet to score a touchdown. In an average matchup against the Chargers, Cooper should benefit from Jason Verrette being done for the season.
Week 4 at Baltimore
Amari Cooper is coming off of a 4-62 line on 9 targets in Week 3. Cooper has looked fantastic so far this year, leading the Raiders with 29 targets on a team that has spread it around on offense. Cooper averaged 4.5 catches and 66.9 yards per game last season on just over eight targets per game. Cooper saw zero targets from inside the 20 in the first seven weeks but had eight on the season, the hope is he will have a bigger role in that area of the field this year. However, as was the case last year, Cooper’s red-zone involvement is a concern as he has just 16.7 percent of the targets inside the 20-yard line.
Week 3 at Tennessee
Amari Cooper is coming off of a 5-71 line on 9 targets in a 28-35 loss against the Falcons in Week 2. Cooper has looked fantastic so far this year, leading the Raiders with 11 targets, 137 yards, and 24.39% percent target market share on a team that has spread it around on offense. Cooper has been targeted twice in the red zone, an 18.2% market share and trailing just Seth Roberts for the team lead (3). Cooper averaged 4.5 catches and 66.9 yards per game last season on just over eight targets per game. Cooper saw zero targets from inside the 20 in the first seven weeks but had eight on the season, the hope is he will have a bigger role in that area of the field this year. In an average matchup against the Titans, Cooper should spend most of his time lined up against Jason McCourty, which is not scary in the least.
Week 2 vs. Atlanta
Amari Cooper is coming off of a massive 6-137 line on 11 targets in a 35-34 win against the Saints in Week 1. With a 31.71% target market share, Cooper was targeted once in the red-zone while Crabtree was not, though both scored a two-point conversion in this game. Amari Cooper averaged 4.5 catches and 66.9 yards per game last season on just over eight targets per game. Cooper saw zero targets from inside the 20 in the first seven weeks, but had eight on the season, the hope is he will have a bigger role in that area of the field this year. In a tough matchup against the Falcons (who are one of the strongest teams in the league in regards to WR aFPA), Cooper should spend most of his time lined up against Desmond Trufant, but is still on the WR1 radar in Week 2.
